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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – As a dietitian and someone schooled in basic science, one of my guilty pleasures is to eavesdrop on conversations about food. People’s beliefs are passionate and their views are very hard to change. Beliefs are often based on emotion not evidence because too few people have the science background to dissect and evaluate the accuracy of food and nutrition information.
Information from the Global New Products Database showed new product trends over the last six years. In some areas the growth in new product claims was extraordinary. It is interesting to see why these trends emerged.
People looking for kosher certification on foods have grown from approximately 27% in 2009 to almost 41% in 2013 and it is still growing. Interestingly, many who buy kosher brands are not Jewish. They equate these various certifying symbols with brand quality and purity when in fact the kosher symbol simply implies that the company has followed standards to comply with the Jewish Dietary Laws which has religious roots. Yet, if people are asked about why they want brands designated kosher, many report it is because those brands are safer, healthier, and better-for-me.
Non-GMO and GMO-free claims have had the biggest growth from slightly below 2% in 2009 to over 10% in 2014. The Non-GMO Project Verified seal is the fastest growing label designation with more than 16,000 verified products. Many people vehemently oppose GMO (genetically-modified) foods because they believe they are unsafe and could harm the environment. A recent study published in the journal Food Policy attempted to inform study participants about the scientific facts of GMO crops and food products. Participants were shown, among other resources, a quote from the National Research Council that said: “To date, no adverse health effects attributed to genetic engineering (of food crops) have been documented in the human population.” At the close of the study 43% of the participants were not swayed by the scientific facts presented. The lead researcher, Brandon McFadden, PhD concluded that the best indicator of whether a person will adopt scientific information is simply what a person believes before receiving that information. In short, facts can’t trump beliefs.
Many groups are advocating transparency surrounding the labeling of genetically modified foods in the US. The argument being that consumers should be allowed to make purchasing choices based on full disclosure of product ingredients. Though this sounds plausible, implementation would be difficult without companies setting themselves up for potential lawsuits due to mislabeling. Because of seed drift and the sheer amount of GMO corn and soybeans grown in the US, many crops could have traces of GMO. And, in states, like Vermont, which has passed a GMO labeling law, there are always carve-outs in the legislation.
The state’s GMO labeling-bill, has exempted Vermont cheese because almost all hard cheese made in the US uses a genetically engineered protein to drive the clotting process. Rennet, obtained from the stomach lining of unweaned calves, was used in the past to clot milk into cheese. In the 1990s rennet prices rose, animal rights groups pushed to protect young animals, and cheese consumption rose sharply. This trifecta pushed biotechnology scientists to discover that a bovine cell transferred into microbes could produce the same clotting agent needed to produce cheese. FPC (the clotting agent produced) was given GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) status by the FDA in 1990. Today, 90% of cheese made in the US is using FPC to clot milk, not only because is it superior to calf rennet, but FPC is acceptable for vegetarian, kosher and halal requirements.
The term natural has also proven to be a very effective marketing tool with close to 13% of all new products using this term on the label. This trend initiated a move by the Natural and Organic Health Association to define the term natural and develop a quality seal that brands could use on labels. In early 2016 the association dropped its plan to create a certified seal for natural foods because it became too difficult from a legal perspective to define standards for natural food products.
Confusion about which foods are the best for us to buy and eat is not going away anytime soon. Health professionals and policy makers need to understand clearly that facts are not enough to change peoples’ ideas and buying behavior. To change behavior it is necessary to tap into the sentiment that drives a person to make shopping decisions. Sentiments ignite passion, fuel commitment, and literally move people into action that can have a profound effect on the marketplace. The current trends in the marketplace are demonstrating that force.
© NRH Nutrition Consultants, Inc.
Jo-Ann Heslin, MA, RD, CDN is a registered dietitian and the author of 30 books. Available as eBooks from iTunes and Amazon Kindle:
Diabetes Counter
Calorie Counter
Protein Counter
Healthy Wholefoods Counter
Complete Food Counter
Fat and Cholesterol Counter
Available in print from Gallery Books:
Most Complete Food Counter, 3rd Ed.
Your Complete Food Counter App: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/your-complete-food-counter/id444558777?mt=8
For more information on Jo-Ann and her books, go to: www.TheNutritionExperts.com.
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